Oscar Romero (1917-1980) wrote, “Christ incarnates the whole history of salvation. He had told the Samaritan woman, “The hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, for God seeks worshipers in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). On this night, the night before his execution, one of the most serious accusations against Christ was repeated before the Sanhedrin. He had said he would destroy the temple and in three days rebuild it (Matt. 26:61). The Gospel makes it clear that the temple to be destroyed was his body because his body was the temple where the covenant, God’s victory, and the liberation of the people of Israel would take place (John 2:21). He was temple, victim, priest, and altar. He is the totality of redemption.”

Romero was Archbishop of El Salvador. He spoke out against poverty, social injustice, assassinations, and torture. In 1980, Romero was assassinated while offering Mass in the chapel of the Hospital of Divine Providence. Though no one was ever convicted for the crime, it was blamed on a right-wing political group.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus